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Does somebody have to die first?
FOUR FACE FEBRUARY MURDER CHARGES
FOUR men faced murder charges yesterday in separate cases. The cases included a nightclub killing last month, and deaths in Yellow Elder Gardens last week, Pinewood Gardens last month, and of a security guard at a seafood proessing centre. SEE PAGE 12
Families fear SIR DURWARD - REMEMBERED WITH LOVE Mud inaction may cost lives By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Chief Reporter aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
“As a resident it makes me want to get out more,” said 37-year-old Bahamian carpenter Claude THE LINGERING Daniel, who said he was not stench of charred earth awarded citizenship until has intensified the anxiety his early 30s despite having of residents in the nation’s applied at 18. largest shanty town, The “It just ain’t safe to be Mud, Abaco. around no more,” he continAs families picked ued, “some people want to through the remains of their get out but people in their 30s homes yesand 40s still terday some don’t have thanked documents to God that go buy land. once again You can’t lives were open a bank spared in the account, blaze that you can’t do tore nothing. It’s through the definitely a area over the rock and a weekend. hard place, Withthat’s what it out the is.” loss of life, HOW The Tribune reported the blaze. “I’m though gonna be all some asked right but you have some whether officials were per- young kids, they still out of haps waiting for fatalities school. I know young kids before they were forced to born in the country, seven deal with The Mud and all or eight years old just walkits problems. ing around in the yard all More than 30 homes day because they can’t go to were razed on Sunday in school, but there’s laws. I’m the second major blaze to not saying it’s right. rip through the settlement. Mr Daniel added: “I’m Local officials and residents saying God don’t sleep. told The Tribune the com- They (Government) probmunity is under constant ably wait until they lose threat from fires and envi- couple lives before they ronmental hazards borne make any real change.” by the illegality of building SEE PAGES TWO & THREE practices.
Say yes to more places
A CELEBRATION of Life was held for Sir Durward Knowles yesterday at Ebenezer Methodist Church. His daughter, Charlotte, is pictured right. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff By MORGAN ADDERLEY Tribune Staff Reporter madderley@tribunemedia.net
Ebenezer Methodist Church for Sir Durward, who died on February 24, 2017 and the age of 100. In 1956, Sir Durward became the BAHAMIAN icon, Olympian, Bahamas’ first Olympic medalist. and philanthropist Sir Durward During the Melbourne Games, he Randolph Knowles was remem- won a bronze medal in sailing along bered yesterday as a man who loved with Sloane Ferguson. his country and strove to make his In 1964 Tokyo Games, Sir Durcommunity a better place. ward won the gold in sailing along A funeral was held yesterday at with Cecil Cooke.
LAW CHANGE TO EXTEND OBAN’S TAX INCENTIVES By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Government has committed to changing The Bahamas’ tax incentive laws solely to “accommodate” Oban Energies’ $5.5bn oil refinery and storage terminal. A little-noticed section in the February 19, 2018, Heads of Agreement for the now-controversial project discloses that the Minnis administration will “speedily” introduce legislation to amend the Industries
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At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Olympic gold medalist in the world. During Monday’s service, Ebenezer Methodist Church was overflowing with family, friends, and representatives of the many organisations Sir Durward supported. SEE PAGE FIVE
PETER KRIEGER Encouragement Act so that Oban Energies can enjoy an “extended” period of tax concessions. The HOA’s section 12.4
states: “The Government shall, on an expedited basis, present a Bill in Parliament in order to amend the Industries Encouragement Act so that the statutory period (as defined therein) may be extended to allow the developer to be granted concessions for such period to accommodate the development.” The Minnis administration is thus changing a law, first passed in 1970, to meet the needs of one specific investor/developer. • FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS • DAVIS DEMAND - SEE PAGE SIX
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SPICY FISHER SANDWICH COMBO
SMITH HITS BACK AT ‘COWARDLY’ BETHEL FRED Smith, QC, has condemned Attorney General Carl Bethel for his “cowardly and shameful attempt to muzzle freedom of expression” and “intimidate” activists who he said are only seeking to educate the public about their rights. Mr Smith, president of Rights Bahamas, said the advocacy group takes any attempt to curtail the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution very seriously SEE PAGE SIX
Does somebody
PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 6, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
from page one
With the devastation running parallel to the government’s renewed pledge to dismantle shanty towns across the country, speculation over possible linkages was rife among onlookers yesterday. Of the residents canvassed, an overriding sentiment was the belief the characterisation of the shanty town as a haven for illegal migrants has allowed successive governments to scapegoat their neglect of a community some residents claim is significantly occupied by Bahamians whether naturalised or not. “You can’t just bring a bulldozer and knock over everything, it would be a riot, but the last fire just happen two or three weeks ago,” said 27-year-old Bahamian Julia Forbes, who underscored the scarcity of affordable living accommodations on the island. Ms Forbes, an expectant mother-of-five who travelled to the island for employment, told The Tribune she settled in the Mud after she was unable to afford available options which exceeded $2,000 per month. Her children live in Freeport with their father. “I’m a Bahamian,” she continued, “I don’t have no Haitian descent. It was just no (affordable) apartments over here and I didn’t want to quit my job to move back to Nassau. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” said the young mother, who is six months pregnant. “At least I had my passport and my wallet but everything I owned was right in there because I was supposed to come right back.
AN AERIAL view of the aftermath of the fire at The Mud in Abaco. “The rent was $200 a month, can’t beat that.” The issue of electricity and its source in the Mud is unclear, with some residents claiming they get their power from the few electricity poles which border the many entrances to the settlement. The poles represent a long foregone era when the settlement enjoyed utilities like electricity and running water;
the alleged disruption of those services in the early 90s was suggested to be politically motivated. However, others underscored power is siphoned from a network of rented drop cords that run overhead and along the ground between generators. Ms Forbes said there were different levels of residents, some of whom were living off-grid in complete
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff disregard of laws, and others who subscribed to the comforts and norms of modern society. Up to yesterday, the total number of residents displaced by the early morning blaze was 60 adults and 35 children. However, the official shelter designated by the government in partnership with the Red Cross was empty on Sunday night. Red Cross shelter manager
Sarone Kennedy Sr said the total number of people registered was nine. The Tribune was told displaced families were likely staying with relatives and friends, or at trusted churches, as they were especially vulnerable with all or most of their belongings, specifically their legal documents lost in the fire. On Monday, DEHS Island Manager Kimberley
Wells led a team of workers to survey the area and immediately treat any open bodies of standing water to prevent potential outbreaks and identify the removal of metals to prevent environmental contamination. Ms Wells said: “The practices what goes on inside here it’s very disturbing because the septic system is not properly constructed and then you have the
have to die first? THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, March 6, 2018, PAGE 3
SOME of the damage, above and below right, at The Mud in Abaco, where residents have been picking up the pieces in the aftermath of the fire. water. You could have any to go. People don’t know problem is not resolved the kind of outbreak at any the law. I can’t live here (in community will be filled time, it’s concerning. We rubble) but I been living with only Bahamian resicome in here all the time here so long, I do my best dents in less than 20 years. we can’t just come in here to live by myself. I don’t He expressed disgust when there’s fire. like live for free, that’s why over what he felt was “We can’t ignore what I apply for this property political exploitation of happens inside here that’s three years ago. I don’t like Bahamian voters in the why my officers are always living free, I want the right Mud and Pigeon Peas, and inside here treating and things, that’s The Baha- subsequent neglect by sucwhat not. They (resi- mas way, and they need the cessive administrations. dents) work with us, they money, you can’t come in “We know what it is,” Mr sleep with some of us, so The Bahamas living free if Lamy continued, “but when you have to be very con- you love this place.” it’s time for you to vote they cerned as to what’s going Ms François added: “I know where to come. The on around here. This is an have permanent residency, road was so smooth and accident waiting to happen, so long I wait for that, but clean but everytime eleca deadly accident. Thank you know how your people tion come and go it’s hell God no one lost their lives go, sometimes they want with the road, hell with the or anything like that but if give it to you, sometimes Haitians until time to vote you just look you still have they don’t want to give it to again. They don’t worry all these houses connected you, sometimes they make about us, no running water, basically to each other and you walk, walk, walk, but I no light, what you think it’s really concerning.” wait, I know God is good.” they trying to tell us? In the January fire, Yesterday, The Trib“It don’t make no sense approximately 55 homes une witnessed Ministry of (voting),” Mr Lamy said, were destroyed, affecting 170 Works officials take meas- “They tell you we gonna people. A 42-year-old man urements for the area and put running water and light was subsequently arraigned were told residents had right now, you see the FNM in Abaco’s Magistrate’s been advised there would in power, where the light? Court on ten counts of arson. be no opportunity to Where the running water? Prime Minister Dr Hubert rebuild regardless of adher- But you hear they trying Minnis has since pledged ence to regulations. to evict us. (Dr Minnis) he that the area affected by the “I’m 33, squatters rights didn’t tell us that, it was fire will be cordoned off and don’t apply for the Mud,” just everything gonna be no structures allowed to be said Jackson Lamy, a natu- straight, power get restored, rebuilt there. ralised Bahamian mechanic. water, good road. During his tour of the “Any place else, or for “So now places burning, settlement following the anyone else, but for Hai- 100 persons going to look January fire, Dr Minnis tians or descendents of for apartment, another two was embraced by an Haitians squatters rights weeks now another hunelderly permanent resi- don’t apply to you. When dred, where we going to dent, 72-year-old Fillette they say yuck out the book find it? Abaco ain’t that big, François. (passport), all of the books and they telling you don’t Yesterday, she told The look the same. but it just build, how you could tell Tribune she was still wait- don’t apply to us.” me don’t build my mommy ing on the assurances made Continued Mr Lamy: and aunty them out on the during that visit. Her house “Every time it burn, they road? Where I gonna put was severely damaged by tell you you can’t build, so them?” that fire and she now lives what that telling you. They in a smaller structure on know that if it burn eventhe compound she has lived tually all of us will go. But on since 1992. She said she I don’t know where they has put in an application want us to go. for land papers but has not “It wasn’t us, our parreceived a response in two ents came here and grow years, and admitted she has us up here, our mentality no idea which agency to is here. (Parents) they ain’t follow up with. teach us no other mentalMs François, who also ity all we know is here, cares for her ten-year-old you can’t blame us if all we grandson as his Bahamian know is this. If the governfather is incarcerated, said ment did want to help us she will not leave her resi- they could have helped us dence unless she is given from long time, they knew some form of permanent we were here, they ain help accommodation. us. When we was growing “They don’t want me to up and others growing up stay there,” she said, “but behind us they ain’t helping if you don’t want me to stay them.” there you have to give me Embittered by what he somewhere to go. if you feels is the persistent injusmove out, you can’t get it, tice doled out to naturalized you don’t have no paper, Bahamians of Haitian that’s why I’m still here. descent and their children, If you want me to go you Mr Lamy yesterday sughave to give me somewhere gested if the shanty town
Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
CLOCKS CHANGE ON SUNDAY THE Cabinet Office wishes to advise the general public that daylight savings time will
commence on Sunday, March 11, at 2am and will continue until 2am on Sunday, November 4.
Tuesday, 6th March 2018
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THE TRIBUNE
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Republicans look to keep a low profile WASHINGTON (AP) — After last year’s successful drive to cut taxes, what do President Donald Trump’s allies in Congress do for an encore? The answer seems to be, “Not so much.” For sure, Republicans in Washington feel good about the effect their overhaul of the nation’s tax code is having on the economy, and recent polling suggests it’s getting more popular as the midterm elections draw closer. But looking ahead to other potential legislation to boast about in hopes of boosting GOP chances of retaining control of the House and Senate, the agenda is pretty thin. Trump’s trillion-dollar-plus plan to boost infrastructure has landed with a thud. Hopes in the House of taking on welfare reform are fizzling. And issues like immigration and now even gun control invite internal GOP divisions at the height of primary season. Repealing and replacing former President Barack Obama’s health care law is off the table. Instead, the GOP-controlled Congress is looking ahead to a year of abbreviated workweeks and low-profile and smallbore initiatives. The House is spending more and more time on the obscure and the arcane; the Senate chamber is being turned over for weeks at a time to routine nominations. On Monday, for example, the House is voting on seven bills to rename post offices. Instead of repealing “Obamacare”, lawmakers are promising bipartisan legislation to free smaller and mid-sized banks from stricter regulations passed in 2010, fund the fight against opioids, and implement the party’s promise for a huge military buildup. To many Republicans, that’s plenty. “We’re going to have the largest defense buildup since Ronald Reagan. Most Republicans, they’d consider that a pretty big accomplishment. We’re going to clearly do more on opioids than we’ve ever done,” said veteran Rep Tom Cole, R-Okla. “They may be secondary issues to most people, but if you can pick off three or four big things like that I think you’ve got something to run on.” Opioid funding and the Pentagon increases are on track to pass this month as part of a $1.3 trillion catchall spending bill, a follow-on measure to a long-sought bipartisan budget outline that passed in February. That omnibus bill is one of the few legislative trains that’s guaranteed to leave the station this year. But for now, the Capitol Hill agenda is remarkably light. The Senate spent last week on a series of confirmation votes, continuing a pattern since Trump took office of devoting one out of every three weeks, on average, solely to voting on Trump nominees. And at other times, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, steers clear
of controversial legislation and avoids Democratic filibusters. Every bill that passed the Senate last year either advanced under filibuster-proof rules or with the support of Democrats. In other words, there wasn’t a single filibuster last year, simply because McConnell kept the floor free of anything that Democrats could block. The result was that the Senate floor became, for weeks at a stretch, a legislative dead zone. For its part, the House had a twoday workweek on noncontroversial legislation last week after GOP leaders canceled votes for Wednesday and Thursday, citing the decision to have Re. Billy Graham lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. But some Democrats weren’t buying it, noting that the supposed precedent cited by GOP leaders to cancel votes wasn’t an ironclad tradition. They suggested the real reason was that the House had nothing to do and that lawmakers wanted to stay out of town to avoid political pressure on guns. Rep Bill Pascrell, D-NJ, said they should have spent last week working on legislation to reduce gun violence. Instead, the House passed legislation aimed at cracking down on sex trafficking on the internet, which is part of a low-profile but widely backed Capitol Hill effort to combat human trafficking. This week, though, it’s back to the obscure BRICK Act, an Obama-era chestnut that would delay new Environmental Protection Agency rules for brick makers. There’s also legislation to ease clean air rules for power plants that burn low-quality coal refuse. Bigger issues like a hoped-for renewal of farm programs are a possibility, but a fight over House GOP demands to cut food stamps could kill it in its crib. In the Senate, Republicans are looking ahead to a scaled-back assault on the 2010 Dodd-Frank law. Rather than an outright repeal, Republicans appear set to embrace a Senate effort that’s focused more on providing regulatory relief to smaller banks. A number of Senate Democrats have signed on, especially those from rural states won by Trump. That’s the type of smaller victory that may not have mass appeal but that is important to key constituencies back home. “It’s incumbent upon members to go home and sell what we’re doing up here,” said Rep Doug Collins, R-Ga. “If we’re always playing to the big event or playing to get on the news, then I think you’re running a race that puts you behind the curve. They need to be in their districts, they need to have their focus on communicating with their districts.” By ANDREW TAYLOR , Associated Press
Tribute to Sir Durward EDITOR, The Tribune.
S - Sensitive; sea wolf. I - Intelligent; inspiring. R - Resilient; riding the waves. D - Darling come Home; I am with child. (Sign Holly). U - Unique; unassuming. R - Resourceful. W - Withstanding the waves of sport and life. A - Articulate; attitude booster. R - Manipulating the tides. D - Dedicated to helping his fellow man. Dear Dad, we Love you! (Sign the kids!) Charlotte, Randy and Jill. Taught to sail at a young age by his father captain Harry Randolph Knowles. 1946 star class world championship winning a bronze medal alongside teammate Basil Kelly. After that winning, he catapulted in 1956 with Sloane “Bunty” Farrington
taking bronze in Melbourne, Australia. In 1964, Olympic Games, he and Cecil Cooke won the Bahamas’ first Olympic Gold Medal in Tokyo. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1996. Sea Wolf was the oldest living Olympic Champion at age 100. I extend condolences to Lady Holly Knowles, his family and his wide circle of friends near and far, locally and internationally. Sir Durward was a national Hero, one Bahamas icon, sporting legend, humanitarian, “National Hero”, husband, father and friend. St Peter graciously welcomes him par excellence in heaven. Sir Durward realised like everything else that luck in sailing played its part. He was a believer in “One Bahamas”, an active, vibrant presence in the Bahamian Community in sports and in business.
Sir Durward is survived by his wife lady Holly Knowles; three children: Charlotte Albury, Randy Knowles and Jill Thompson; six grandchildren: Roscoe Thompson, Jason Thompson, Jeffrey Thompson, Tiffany Albury, Kristy and Rebecca Knowles and numerous other family members too numerous to mention. Sir Durward is also survived by his loving sister Violet Weech, who turned 102 last year. To God be the Glory! Great things he has done! The legendary Bahamian Sailor and Olympia Sir Durward Randolph Knowles slipped from this side of the vineyard to eternity from kidney failure and other complications on Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at 2:15pm amongst a myriad of family members. May his soul rest in eternal peace. LOXSLEY BASTIAN Nassau, March 1, 2018.
Family Island clinics EDITOR, The Tribune.
IT was the news article, Bodies in Bathtubs, that is prompting this letter, but by no means is this the only issue at hand. I have lived on Mangrove Cay, Andros, for nearly 14 years. A couple of months ago a young boy died here. The father, already distraught over the death of his son, had to run all over the island after midnight to try and find ice for his son’s body. More recently, an elderly man passed away, with his family having to do the same thing, run around looking for ice. So, to read about the people in Cat Island faced with the same issues, I have to ask myself, “Do we have no decency?” I am being sincere. Do we have no decency? How can Dr Sands get up and talk about National Health Insurance, yet know these conditions exist in the Family Islands? Can I not say that we have a national heath emergency, when we hear reports such as this? We have a relatively rich country, spending big money so our politicians can jet around the world. We spend big money on our roads, airport, sports facilities, on consultants, on celebrations, as if we have our country under control and our people prospering. Spending big money on consultants to advise us on National Health Insurance, while our clinics are in an inarguable state of shambles. We cannot even get our clinics right for our existing citizens. We must be crazy to be talking about NHI right now. $50.00 a month for supplies is an insult. So, it occurred to me that if this is going on in Cat Island and here on
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Mangrove Cay, how many other Bahamians are living with these 3rd World realities? Come to Mangrove Cay and see for yourself. Talk to the professional clinic staff and see what they say. Ask them, who in government has heard, and acted upon the deplorable conditions they have seen with their own eyes. We have an MP who is unresponsive to our needs. Find a resident on Mangrove Cay who will tell you, our MP, one of four PLPs to survive, has done anything for our community. He is non-existent, unless he is in HOA asking for more money and “special considerations” from BEC, or embarrassing his constituents and our country. Everybody in government seems to be non-existent for us. I am tired of keeping silent about these insults to our humanity. I am tired of travelling to Nassau only to see the mass of homeless people, clearly mentally challenged, begging on the streets, growing in numbers by the day, it seems. The cruel indifference shown to these people is unacceptable. Now we run over people in cars, killing them, not even stopping to see if they are OK. Like animals. That doesn’t sound good does it? But how is it wrong to say it? Like animals. How sad. We have a partly remodelled clinic here on Mangrove Cay that was supposed to be finished in eight weeks. This was in 2016. Now, after construction was begun again, it was “unfunded” once the FNM got into power. Is this a
cruel joke? Now it sits rotting away while our “clinic” is in a substandard building not suited for a clinic at all. We must do better. Not tomorrow, but now. It is one thing to misrepresent and fail on all of the promises made to us over the years. It is entirely another when you are wholly insensitive to our needs as human beings. Anyone who makes excuses for this inhumane treatment is not worthy of ever “leading” anyone. Ever. We have been “promised” a Port of Entry for decades, by our MP himself, only to be told the FNM wouldn’t hear of it. Our community dock is a disgrace. Our water pipes are bursting on an almost daily basis. Our electrical generators are old and hanging on by a thread. All of our public facilities are in need of maintenance and repair. Personally, I believe that instead of a raise, the MPs should remind people that we are all in this together and they should forgo 50% of their taxpayer’s pay cheque until we achieve basic human decency for all Bahamians, not just those in Parliament. I am indignant that the Bahamian government can act as if they are presiding over a country that treats its citizens with dignity and respect, when the facts staring them in the face asserts that this is NOT the case. We also have to run around looking for ice to cover our deceased loved ones. This is totally unacceptable. NORMAN TRABULSY Jr Mangrove Cay, Andros. March 2, 2018.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, March 6, 2018, PAGE 5 HARTIS PINDER, lay preacher at Ebenezer Methodist Church.
A CELEBRATION of life was held for Sir Durward Knowles yesterday at Ebenezer Methodist Church. Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
CHARLOTTE ALBURY, Sir Durward’s daughter.
FREDDIE MUNNINGS, Jr
STEVEN KELLY ROSCOE THOMPSON III, grandson of Sir Durward Knowles.
DR Hubert Minnis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas.
Sir Durward - remembered with love from page one THESE included his former high school Queen’s College, the Rotary Club of East Nassau, the Bahamas Association for Physically Disabled, and One Bahamas, all of which paid tribute during the ceremony. During his tribute, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis extended condolences on behalf of a “grateful nation” to a man who “loved our Bahamas with joy and exuberance”. Dr Minnis said: “Sir Durward Knowles was a world-class athlete and Olympian... He was an accomplished businessman, a man of excellence who exhibited discipline in every field of endeavour. “He loved his family and his country with tremendous passion and devotion.” Dr Minnis continued: “As I noted on several occasions, Sir Durward demonstrated the nobility and largeness of spirit to confront certain historic wrongs in our country, which some others chose to silently ignore at best. “His involvement with the disability community demonstrated a core value of Sir Durward… This value is the dignity of all of God’s people, regardless of any circumstance of birth or life.” Dr Minnis added: “(Sir Durward) passionately believed that we all
deserve a chance to succeed in life, and spent his life helping others to succeed and fulfil their potential. “He used his privilege to help the underprivileged and the vulnerable. This was a testament to his faith and to his commitment to good citizenship. “Sir Durward Knowles represents the very best of the Bahamian spirit.” In his tribute, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham described Sir Durward as a “national institution”. He also offered condolences to Sir Durward’s wife, Lady Holly, with whom the icon was blessed with “a long marriage, 71 years”. Mr Ingraham said: “It is presumptuous of me to call Sir Durward my friend. He was 30 years my senior, an accomplished businessman, a model humanitarian, and patron of many…but I admired and respected him. “(Sir Durward) was a man of his word… He said what he meant, and he meant what he said. He loved the sea. He made it his sport and he made it his business. (To) great success in both instances. “He won The Bahamas (its) first Olympic gold medal, and inspired others to do likewise. “In short, Sir Durward was a great Bahamian patriot, a man of character, and a man of social conscience, and a man of charity.”
During the ceremony, the Olympic flag hung behind the rostrum. Sir Durward’s daughter, Charlotte Albury, thanked the Olympic Association for this honour. She said: “I understand this is a very rare thing, that is not given out too often, and we really appreciate you having made the effort to get this in our possession.” Mrs Albury also asked those present to “make (Sir Durward) proud by doing something good for your fellow human being”. She added: “If we all take just one page out of his book of life, what a better Bahamas we would have.” Both Mrs Albury and the obituary quoted words from Sir Durward’s final book, “Never Give Up”. “As I write this book, I am almost 100 and right now I am in a good place. My body is not bad for a centurion and my mind is sound,” Sir Durward wrote. “I can honestly say, I have lived a full life and if my eyes closed tomorrow, I would feel I left the world a better place than I found it. Never give up!” Sir Durward’s legacy will be cherished by his wife, Lady Holly; children, Jill, Randy, and Charlotte; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, numerous relatives, friends, and the nation.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, March 6, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Davis: Release document signed by Krieger By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PETER Krieger at the signing ceremony - but there have been calls for the government to make clear what he signed.
OPPOSITION Leader Philip “Brave” Davis criticised the Minnis administration yesterday for its lack of transparency on the Oban Energies project. The Nassau Guardian reported that Peter Krieger, once the face of the $5.5bn project, did not sign his own name on the heads of agreement for the deal that was inked two weeks ago, but signed the name of Satpal Dhunna, the company’s president. Officials did not reveal during the press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister that Mr Krieger would be doing this. Mr Davis, former deputy prime minister, said yesterday that “ceremonial” signings like this one are “unusual”. He called for the government to release the document signed by Mr Krieger. “Even in cases where it happens, you’d indicate that it is ceremonial so parties can be aware,” the Progressive Liberal Party leader said. “If because of convenience the document is required to be signed in this way before you make it public, you should say
it and not let the public believe something that wasn’t the case. Mr Krieger’s participation at the event marking the heads of agreement’s signing a couple of weeks ago reportedly caught some members of the Minnis administration by surprise, The Tribune was told. His visibility was owed to a family connection he has to at least one of the project’s beneficial owners, two sources in the Minnis administration have said. He has since been permanently removed from his public role in the project. Mr Davis also criticised the administration for signing an agreement that prohibits its termination whatever environmental impact assessments conclude. “It’s ridiculous to believe you could have a project that will be damaging to the health and safety of the environment and to residents and that you would allow it proceed,” he said. Mr Davis said the clause is “unprecedented”. In a separate interview with Our News yesterday, Mr Davis said this saga has revealed “troubling traits” about the Minnis administration and placed a “black eye” on the deal. Former Attorney
General Alfred Sears, QC, said yesterday the EIA controversy highlights the need for an Environmental Protection Act, though he noted the Privy Council has ruled in the past that an EIA is not necessary for a development to be sanctioned. “As the Privy Council indicated and observed in the Save Guana Cay ruling,” Mr Sears said, “The Bahamas urgently needs comprehensive legislation for environmental protection laws that will require an EIA to be obtained prior to the execution of a heads of agreement and that there will be meaningful consultation with communities whose way of life will be significantly impacted by the proposed development and to ensure the protection of ecologically sensitive ecosystems within The Bahamas. This moment of controversy calls for bipartisan collaboration so that any future government of The Bahamas would conduct the affairs of state in a manner that balances the necessity for economic development with the preservation of the environmental heritage resources of the Bahamas for future generations of Bahamians and visitors.” Mr Sears said Grand
Bahama would particularly benefit from an EPA. “A shift in paradigm is especially urgent and necessary in Grand Bahama, the industrial base of The Bahamas where communities adjacent to industrial industries have been impacted adversely by polluters or pollution from these industries,” he said. “There’s an urgent need in the interest of public health to engage the University of The Bahamas, Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation to investigate what has been the impact of these industrial industries on the health of those communities, how they should be remediated and safeguards to avoid any repetition to achieve sustainable development.” Yesterday, Environment Minister Romi Ferreira declined to answer questions relating to his role under the Oban Energies heads of agreement. The agreement empowers the minister responsible for environment to order the discontinuation of any equipment that causes an environmental infraction. However, environment advocate Fred Smith, QC, has said the country lacks laws empowering the minister to enforce such a provision.
SMITH HITS BACK AT ‘COWARDLY’ BETHEL from page one
and is preparing a report on the “bully tactics” of the current administration to present to the international community. He was responding to strong statements Mr Bethel made on Sunday about a pamphlet circulated by Rights Bahamas. “His complaints about a recent publication by Rights Bahamas are petty, irrelevant and totally lacking in merit; meanwhile, his threatening language toward human rights defenders should be considered highly dangerous by all Bahamians who
defend democracy and fundamental rights,” Mr Smith said in a statement. He accused Mr Bethel of using language similar to former Minister of Immigration Fred Mitchell, who he labelled an “anti-human rights scourge.” “...The attorney general suggested that Rights Bahamas is somehow attempting to subvert good governance and the rule of law by outlining for members of the public their rights and privileges under the law,” Mr Smith added. “This is pure nonsense – our mission is precisely to defend the rule of law at all times, particularly from individuals
in positions of power who would seek to curtail people’s personal freedoms in the name of political expediency. “Bethel has absolutely no right to seek to silence activists in this anti-democratic, abusive fashion and I put him on notice that if he continues down this shameful road, we will have no choice but to embarrass the FNM on the high profile international stage – just as we did the Christie administration.” On Sunday, Mr Bethel pledged to defend the country’s borders and the “patrimony of Bahamians” from a “long-running silent invasion,” as he hit out at Rights Bahamas for disseminating “inflammatory” and “misleading” information about the country’s immigration laws. He accused the “selfappointed human rights group” of disseminating “highly offensive, inflammatory and deliberately deceptive and misleading” information about the country’s laws on immigration and rights, as well as
presenting “false depictions and analyses of significant aspects of Bahamian law”. Mr Bethel also said while people and groups have a constitutional right to freedom of speech, that right is “subject to limitations” and cannot be misused to “spread propaganda, create hysteria and perpetrate deliberate inaccuracies to accomplish a specific agenda”. He added the government will not allow that sovereign right, along with its “solemn duty” to maintain the rule of law with decency and common humanity, to be “subverted by any person or group of persons”. He also lashed out at the group for juxtaposing stock photos from other parts of the world with local scenes, to give the impression the events took place locally. However, Mr Smith questioned why Mr Bethel was so perturbed by this fact. “According to him, the use of a few stock photos in the publication, among many locally sourced
Death Notice Foster Francis Bethell, 81
passed away in Nassau on Wednesday, February 28th, 2018. He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years Joan and his loving children Ferron Bethell, Marcia Reynoso, Francis Bethell and Dr. Kimberley Bethell. Much beloved grandfather of Aleana Reynoso-Bui, Sebastian Bethell, Francis-Patrick Bethell, Isabella Reynoso, Francesca Bethell and Cataleya Bethell. Fondly remembered by son-in-law, Luis Reynoso; daughter-in-law, Justice Carolita Bethell and Stephen Sweeting and Leisa Bethell. His grandson-in-law, Phillip Bui; long time childhood friend, Adrian D’Aguilar and loyal friend, Ed Brown. He will be dearly missed. Farewell service will be held on Saturday, March 10th , 2018 at 11:00am at Sacred Heart Church on Shirley Street. The family has requested that in Lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Foster Bethell to The Ranfurly Home for Children, P.O.Box N.1413, Nassau, The Bahamas. Arrangements Limited.
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ATTORNEY Fred Smith and Attorney General Carl Bethel. images, somehow consti- judgments of the court and tutes a deliberate attempt doing as they please with to mislead the public, people’s lives, while Bethel spread propaganda and and his colleagues get all cause mischief,” Mr Smith worked up over a small said. informational booklet.” “This is vintage Mitchell Mr Smith said the Free conspiracy theory talk and National Movement ran on quite clearly utter foolish- a campaign of progressivness,” he said, also asking ism and respect for the rule rhetorically if the attor- of law, but instead appears ney general does not think to be giving more of the human rights abuses occur same of what was experiin The Bahamas. enced under the Christie “As for his claim that administration. Rights Bahamas is misrep“We remind the FNM resenting the law when it that they courted civil comes to immigration, I society and human rights would urge him to look to defenders, stood shoulder the many recent decisions to shoulder with us during by the Supreme Court of the We March demonstraThe Bahamas which over- tions and paid lip service whelmingly support our to the rights and freedoms interpretation of the law enshrined in the Bahamas and negate the claims of constitution. How far they politicians that they are have already strayed from above it. He should also that posture is made clear take some time to peruse by Carl Bethel’s words.” the sworn statements of so said Mr Smith. many detained individu“A report on the antials who were vindicated by democratic bully tactics the courts, which speak in employed the current detail to the abuse, neglect, administration is being violence and corruption prepared for circulation to within the Immigration the Inter-American ComDepartment. The truth mission on Human Rights, hurts, but that is no excuse and the UN Human Rights to shoot the messenger. Council; as well as Amnesty “Speaking of the rule of International, Human law, it is utterly absurd for Rights Watch, Robert F the government to continue Kennedy Human Rights to allow a rogue Immi- and several other internagration Department to tional watchdog groups,” run rampant, ignoring the Mr Smith said.
CRIME SCENE VISIT IN GB MURDER TRIAL By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
JURORS in the double murder and armed robbery trial being held in the Supreme Court on Grand Bahama were taken on a site visit on Monday visiting several areas, including the murder scene in Deadman’s Reef. The three accused men Paul Belizaire, Devaughn Hall, and Kevin Dames – were also accompanied by their attorneys Geoffrey Farquharson, Jethlyn Burrows and Carlson Shurland, respectively. Prosecutors Neil Brathwaite and Erica Kemp are appearing on behalf of the Crown. Justice Estelle Gray-Evans is presiding over the trial. Barry and Sheena Johnson were discovered shot to death at their triplex apartment in Deadman’s Reef
on September 12, 2015. It is alleged that four masked armed men robbed the couple of a set of keys and their GMC truck, which was later recovered by police. The trial began last October. The prosecution has called several witnesses, including Allan Alcime and Virgil Hall, who were initially arrested and charged with the trio. Both Alcime and Virgil Hall accepted plea deals offered by the Office of the Attorney General in exchange for them to testify as witnesses for the Crown. Both had testified under oath that they were with the accused men on the night in question in Deadman’s Reef when the couple was murdered. The murder charges were withdrawn against the men, who pleaded guilty to armed robbery and are serving time in prison for the offence.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, March 6, 2018, PAGE 7
Police hunt for US man swept into sea By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
STEPHANIE BOWERS
NEW CHARGE D’AFFAIRES JOINS US EMBASSY STEPHANIE Bowers assumed the role of chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy Nassau on March 1. Ms Bowers is a career foreign service officer who most recently served as chief of staff of the Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Previously she served as deputy director of the Office of Central American Affairs, deputy director of the Office of International Religious Freedom, senior watch officer in the Secretary of State’s Executive Secretariat Operations Centre, and as Caribbean Basin Security Initiative co-ordinator and South America team leader in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). She also served at the White House as director for Andean affairs at the National Security Council. Outside the Western Hemisphere, Ms Bowers has served in Antananarivo, Madrid, Durban, and Baghdad, where she was the transition director for INL.
POLICE are searching for a 19-year-old American man who was swept into rough seas while in the area of the Queen’s Bath, south of the Glass Window Bridge in Eleuthera yesterday morning. The incident occurred shortly after 7am when the American and another man were at Queen’s Bath when a wave struck them and swept them into the sea. One of the men was able to hold on to a rock and managed to pull himself to safety but the young American was swept away. The US Coast Guard and members of the public were assisting with the search. During the course of the search, a police offer received minor injuries for which he was examined at a local clinic and later discharged. The incident came after officials warned the public about crossing the bridge, saying on Sunday it was closed due to high sea surges. The closure left residents stranded between the north and south parts of the island on Monday. A man who was injured on Sunday after
being swept off the bridge and landing on rocks below was airlifted to a hospital in New Providence yesterday. There was also severe flooding where up to five feet of water was reported in Rainbow Bay and James Cistern. Giant sinkholes in the road have been reported. “The island is cut in half and water is flowing from the Atlantic into the Caribbean Sea at Daddy Joe’s in Gregory Town,” a resident of Eleuthera told The Tribune. Police have closed the bridge and have asked residents to stay away from the area. People attempting to cross the bridge posted a video on social media of the path being swallowed up by a huge wave. A high-pressure system that moved in The Bahamas on Sunday caused high winds and generated dangerous surf in Eleuthera. The Tribune attempted to contact Chief Supt Steven Adderley and Island Administrator Gilbert Kemp but was told that both men were out all day assessing the situation on the island. Area MP Ricky Mackey described the incident as one of the worst he has seen in a long time. “Whatever you have to do on the other side can wait, your
life is more important than attempting to cross the bridge,” he urged residents on the island. There were reports that some six visitors were ignoring warnings and were in the water surfing in rough conditions near the bridge. Meanwhile in Abaco yesterday police were investigating an apparent drowning at a local resort. Asst Supt Terecita Pinder reported that shortly before 11am on Sunday police were called to a resort in Marsh Harbour where the body of a Caucasian male had been pulled from the water. EMS personnel responded and examined the victim but there were no signs of life. The identity of the deceased has not been released. ASP Pinder said foul play is not suspected and police are investigating the incident. The stormy seas also affected New Providence where several cruise ships were unable to dock in Nassau yesterday due to winds and rough surf. Private yachts and cargo vessels were also unable to depart port due to swells. The weather system will continue to generate rough swells for next two to three days.
ROUGH seas caught on camera in Eleuthera in video footage circulating on social media.
25-YEAR-OLD CHARGED OVER HIT-AND-RUN THAT KILLED JOGGER By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A 25-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday over allegations he struck and killed a woman with an uninsured vehicle while she was having her morning jog on West Bay Street. The man also left the scene of the accident. Gheal Akeem Brown, of
Pride Estates, stood before Deputy Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain charged with four traffic offences stemming from the February 28 hit and run that claimed the life of a 39-year-old woman. For his alleged actions, Brown was charged with killing in the course of dangerous driving, driving a motor vehicle while not covered against third party risk insurance, failing to remain stationary after an accident,
and failing to report the traffic accident within 24 hours. According to police reports, shortly after 5am on February 28, a woman was exercising on West Bay Street in the vicinity of Quality Markets, when she was struck by a white vehicle with SD plates attached. Paramedics were called to the scene, but were unable to revive her. Hours after the incident, senior police officers said they were able to locate and
identify the vehicle in question. However, the driver had not yet been located. Shortly after midnight on March 1, however, a team of officers from the Bimini district, acting on intelligence, went to a local marina and business establishment where they arrested Brown and another individual in connection with the matter, police said. Brown pleaded not guilty to all of the charges
yesterday and the matter was adjourned to May 18. The Crown did not object to bail, but requested that certain conditions be imposed due to the nature of two of his charges. The deputy chief magistrate consequently granted Brown $7,500 bail with one suretor. He is to be electronically tagged and must check in at the Nassau Street police station every Friday before 6pm.
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Education, Oh Education E
ducation is crucial to every society’s development; this country is no exception. In fact, the abundance of promise makes it seriously critical to do so. It is a must. This country has worn education like a cheap suit, spending upon it with the respect one would give to three day old refuse. Over the last 50 years the Bahamas has spent, on average, 15 percent of its budget on this most important issue. Countries serious about this matter spend more than 30 percent. Some, like the United States, Israel and even Zimbabwe, spend roughly 38 percent. We are buying half an education. The result of this disrespect is that we are attracting employees looking for a job. The bulk of those trapped in the class room have been beaten down further by the constant drip, drip of the lowly teachers’ salaries. It has to be extremely challenging for any and every teacher to sustain the level of energy and interest the students deserve. This country’s leaders must decide that they will continue doing what they are doing or to take corrective actions. If the decision made is to treat the teacher as a professional rather than a baby sitter, then short and simple, you have to pay them accordingly, and not under what should be livable wage, 15 dollars per hour. They in return will produce the teachers of the future. With our country’s ability to attract 15 million over night visitors, the potential to grow 4.2 trillion dollars of fish and employ millions, and the reality that we can grow 75 percent of our agro demands (even if for convenience) adds yet another dimension. All told, the creation of jobs, directly and indirectly demand a serious level
of training and education. We cannot afford to leave this to the untrained and half trained. It is imperative that we move to double our education budget as swiftly as possible. Our teachers’ salaries at all levels need to double. Those teachers capable of handling Mathematics and Science should be paid a bonus of 25 percent. This should be achieved in three to four years. Then, we must move to add another 50 percent so that our base salary would be $70,000. We are looking to make our teachers’ lives much more comfortable, allowing them the chance to travel and enhance their education, increase their exposure and bring all those experiences to the classrooms. We want them to make their classes come to life; to grow legs and run, wings and fly. You cannot get this from teachers worrying about every little bill and ailment. The country must demand that in return each teacher attains a Masters degree and be obligated to pay for each stage passed on the way to that destiny. We simply cannot afford to leave any student behind. President Obama spoke to the plight of children demitting school without ever knowing or realizing their God given talents. Personally, the writer understands. He was 27 plus years old when he discovered his true talent. So, allow him to reminisce for a while. In 1977 the writer got a call from the late Mr. Calvin Cooper about writing a newsletter for the Bahamas Golf Association, now Federation. His reply was both spontaneous and classic. ‘I cannot write a straight line with a rule(r), but I will try!’ Later, writer Sunday, and his
this Paper made the pinch himself. One 25 years or so ago, he partner played a golf
tournament and out of 45 teams his was in the last five or six. The next morning he opened the Tribune Sports section and saw some familiar shoes. Scrolling upwards, some skinny legs appeared to be those of Mr. Corey Pavin; however, continuing, he soon realized that it was him! He thought he was reading from the Hereafter, for The Tribune summed this quarter page photo in five words, “Milford ‘Shaggy’ Lockhart Golf Legend”. Now understand this. Before golf, the writer was a baseball player who thought that he could be a better hitter than his mentor and idle, Donnie Lockhart, who in his mind today, is the Bahamian GOAT, the greatest hitter of all time. One thing is certain, Mr. Donnie was the calmest, coolest sportsperson, with only the great Mr. Andre Rodgers for rival. The point is that this misunderstanding happens because there is little energy expended to search out the answers. Children and young persons are often misjudged, (missed) evaluated, and untapped by their teachers/mentors. This gives clear credence as to why this country needs highly motivated teachers throughout the system. The teachers have to be constantly positive, supportive and loving, as their students demand it. The whole system must be a nurturing ground where every student feels confident and are welcomed and accepted. From Preschool to Primary school, through Secondary to Tertiary there needs to be clear vision in education. From the cradle to the grave, ALL must be involved in learning. The home, the family and the community must act in unison as a feeding, growing, building system so that our children will climb the stairway to success, one step at
MILFORD Lockhart a time; yes, some may even skip a step or two on the way up. Through it all, like The Master Teacher, our educators must be equipped to guide, encourage, model and light the way. Yes, yes, yes, we are in some trying times, times brought on by the folly of past actions or lack of action. This writer, over the last four weeks, has demonstrated the vast resources we are literally sitting on. In eight days or so he will give you readers a full recap; but for now, a briefing is in order: 1. Pool our properties in the Family Islands and commence 100, fifty-five hundred acre developments, creating approximately 75 thousand millionaires and 250,000 direct jobs. 2. Develop one tenth of one percent of our fisheries potential, which is 42 billion dollars, and for the use of the sea bed
charge 10 percent. That is 4.2 billion dollars or twice our National budget. All taxes on Bahamians are then cancelled. 3. Prepare the west coast of Andros to grow fish by dredging. The aggregate derived, buffers the coast of Andros against the rise of the ocean and the balance is sold to Florida, who has the same set of problems. Then, there is almost a certainty that the country can sell a 25 billion dollar futures contract. For a more complete overview of Education get a copy of the book “Yes You Can- more thanA Bahamian Plan.” Yes We Can do all this!
Milford E. Lockhart, P. A.; C.A. Tel: 324-4000 Cell: 422-0651 Email: emlockhart@hotmail.com
PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 6, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
Hey Mr Bully, look at the boy now
ADDIS Huyler as he is now, as a child, below, and with Cleophas Adderley at the Icon Awards.
Face to Face
By FELICITY INGRAHAM
A
DDIS Huyler is a as a 41-year-old man, when I successful, dynamic take photographs and people and confident respond positively, I still see that Bahamian man on awkward, insecure little boy. It’s a mission to ensure his fellow difficult for me to connect to that Bahamians are recognised and - it’s a constant struggle.” honoured for the work they “They see Addis Huyler the do to help make this country Icon founder. I still see that little a better one. He is the master- boy who is struggling every day mind behind the Bahamian Icon to define himself.” awards, now in its sixth year, He was never physically celebrating the dedication and abused, but he wants to point success of Bahamians in areas out the strong impact verbal such as sports, entrepreneurship, abuse can have on a child. His commerce, media, entertain- sister, Jessica Martin is ten years ment, health, tourism and fine younger than him. As a result, art. He is also the CEO of the he grew up mostly by himself SIDDA Communications group, and found school to be his main a successful marketing and public source of socialisation. Because relations consultancy. With all of the constant teasing and this going for him, you would ostracising he experienced, he have no idea Addis found it difficult to was once a gawky, ‘I really wasn’t the develop into himtall, lumbering kid cool kid. I was self. Like countless who dealt with bul- into my classwork other kids, bullylying throughout his ing affects one’s and nerdy stuff school years. self worth. Even Today, Addis like speech his unique name, wants to share his competitions and which is Amharic story of being bulfor “new” was once lied and how he doing well in a source of discompushed through class, so it made fort; as kids with it to find a way to it difficult for me. different names define himself and are often teased set himself on a I was picked on because of it. path for success. as I grew up.’ It wasn’t until his Behind his big, latter high school bright smile, Addis years when he is a man still learning to accept began to participate in track and compliments and embrace his field that people defined him by good looks because of the teas- anything other than the way he ing he endured during his years looked. It was the first time of schooling. The experience “set he felt recognised for the framework” for how he was his gifts and talents able to approach other difficult and he found situations in his life. people started “I was bullied for years; I was to relate to a kid who was always taller than him. He felt everyone else, really skinny, big track and lips, big ears that stuck out from field helped the side of my head and at one him with point I had really bad acne,” self-discovAddis recalls, adding that in pri- ery, finding mary school they used to sing validation and the “Dumbo” theme song at him understanding because of his extra large ears. the world through “I really wasn’t the cool kid. his own gifts. I was into my classwork and “You could become nerdy stuff like speech competi- stunted in growth and give tions and doing well in class, so in to the negativity and allow it made it difficult for me. I was it to shape your psyche and the picked on as I grew up.” choices you make, or you can He added: “It was difficult use it to go to the light and diseven as I grew older and started cover who we were born to be,” to grow into myself. Even now Addis shared.
He has this advice for everyone but especially young Bahamian men: “Find a way to bring your talent forth to serve the world. It’s the only job we have here. It’s not about graduating and settling into a secure career to have that security as The Bahamas is so famous for encouraging that cookie-cutter lifestyle in our Bahamian children. Don’t focus on just what you want to do, but what kind of man, husband, father, employee or employer you want to be. Think of how you want to affect the world and the people around you. That is the key to living a complete and meaningful life. Focus on being a good person and being the best you can be to the people around you and those you love.” Addis is doing just that. He specialises in providing low-cost, high impact marketing programmes for small to medium-sized companies. Six years ago, he was the sole employee. Today, he has built a large and talented team of designers, writers, project coordinators and production staff. Prior to forming SIDDA, he
worked as project manager and marketing consultant for BusinessLore Group and Gelignite Communications in Atlanta, Georgia. There, he served as Deputy National Press Secretary for the 100 Black Men of America Inc. and is the founding editor of the Classic Insider magazine, an event publication still in circulation today. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpersonal and Organisational Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a former professional track and field athlete and Bahamas national team member. Currently, he is a member of the United States National Association of Black Journalists. His love, the Bahamian Icon Awards (www.bahamianiconawards.com), continues to grow in popularity and has honoured some of the most outstanding achievers in the country. One of the turning points in his life occurred when the Icon Awards named Cleophas Adderley as recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr Adderley was a nation builder who paved the way and inspired so
many in the arts in this country, especially as director of the Bahamas National Youth Choir. Upon learning of this honour, Mr Adderley decided he had to be there in person. He was hospitalised at the time and doctors allowed him only half an hour to attend the ceremony. Therefore, Addis had to shift the programme around to accommodate this cultural giant for whatever time he showed up. When Mr. Adderley came and was wheeled on to the stage, he gestured for Addis to come closer. He whispered, “I want to stand.” Mr Adderley was helped to his feet and stood to receive the award, beaming with pride. Just two weeks later, he passed away, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of all he touched. It was at this point that Addis realised the importance of making his mark on the world, being a man, standing for something, and putting his all into each and every goal he aspires to. “We leave ourselves open to be used by a power greater than ourselves,” he said, “And in that moment, I felt it; I felt the presence of God and I understood that everything we had been doing in six years was for moments like these.” Despite the bullying he experienced, Addis still holds dearly to memories of spending every summer during his school years in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera. His mother, Vernice Smith, would send him to the island along with her little sister, Ginger Dames for weeks of endless enjoyment. He recalls being free to explore the beach and the bush, spending long summer days roasting corn, picking native fruit and “doing all the things that kids on the island do”. It’s a part of the reason The Bahamas kept tugging at his heart to return from the big city and come home to make a difference.
MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING $7,500 IN ARMED RAIDS By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A 34-YEAR-OLD man was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with robbing a number of persons at gunpoint of more than $7,000 in cash and other items that belonged to various pharmacies, restaurants and a service station in New Providence between May 2017 and February of this year.
John Demeritte, of Golden Gates #2, stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson Pratt charged with 12 counts of armed robbery for allegedly being the perpetrator of multiple incidents involving over $7,581.33 belonging to a dozen enterprises. It is alleged that on May 14, 2017, while being armed with a firearm, he robbed Jyles Carter of $655, the property of Polhemus Drugs on Boyd Road. He
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is also accused of robbing that individual of the same amount belonging to the same enterprise on January 3. It is also alleged he robbed Cleopatra Rolle at gunpoint of $200 belonging to Super Wash on Nassau Street on May 19, 2017. It is also alleged that on May 28, 2017, while armed with a shotgun, he robbed Onette Dean of $3,000 in cash, the property of Bet Vegas. It is further alleged that on January 3, and armed with a firearm, Demeritte robbed Cepetra Demeritte of $621.33 in cash, the property of BJ’s Convenience Store on Carmichael Road.
He also robbed Suana Windross of 10 GSM phone cards worth $50; 10 Talk It Up cards worth $50 and $350 in cash, the property of Monty’s Beauty Supplies Store. It is also alleged that on May 20, 2017 and January 10, while armed with a firearm, Demeritte robbed both Dianette Dorsette and Corrine Scott of an undetermined amount of cash belonging to the Rubis Service Station on Carmichael Road. He also allegedly robbed Kenva Huyler of an undetermined amount of cash belonging to the Six and Four Restaurant on Carmichael Road on
February 12. Demeritte is also accused of robbing Lashawn Rolle at gunpoint of $300 cash belonging to Kentucky Fried Chicken in Oakes Field on January 13, and robbing Chan Sheung at gunpoint of $300 belonging to Peardale Supermarket on January 17. He also allegedly robbed Jeffernique Ferguson at gunpoint of $1,500, which belonged to a pharmacy on Carmichael Road. Demeritte was not required to enter a plea to the charges and the matter was adjourned to April 24 for service of a voluntary
bill of indictment. Before being escorted out of the courtroom, Demeritte’s attorney, Ian Cargill, claimed his client was punched in his stomach and back and forced to sign certain documents while in police custody. Mr Cargill also claimed a plastic bag was placed over his client’s face. Mr Cargill also claimed his client requested medical attention on numerous occasions, but was denied. The chief magistrate noted Mr Cargill’s claims before remanding Demeritte to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
THREE ADMIT RENTAL CAR FRAUD By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THREE men between the ages of 22 and 25 yesterday pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a number of Hyundai vehicles from a local rental company during the latter part of last month. Sean Roberts, Akeem Storr, and Sean Bain all admitted to committing multiple fraud related offences stemming from
their actions between February 15 and 24 concerning vehicles from Avis Rent-A-Car. Regarding Roberts and Storr, both men admitted they fraudulently obtained a Hyundai Accent worth $400 from Avis Rent-A-Car near the British Colonial Hilton on February 15, and again fraudulently obtained another Hyundai Accent worth $900 from the same agency on February 27. Roberts also pleaded guilty to fraudulently
obtaining a Hyundai Accent worth $850 from Avis RentA-Car on February 17, and another Hyundai Accent worth $1,200 on February 25. Bain and Storr also pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining both a Hyundai Accent worth $500 and a Hyundai Tucson worth $600 from Avis Rent-A-Car on February 17, and also admitted to fraudulently obtaining both a Hyundai Accent worth $900 and a Hyundai Tucson worth the same amount on
the 20th of that month. Bain and Storr also admitted to fraudulently obtaining a Hyundai Elantra worth $1,000 from Avis Rent-A-Car. The matter was ultimately adjourned to Thursday, at which time the Crown will read of the summary of the facts and hear pleas in mitigation from their attorney Ian Cargill. They were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in the interim.
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018, PAGE 9
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, March 6, 2018, PAGE 11
KELLY’S HANDS $10,000 DONATION TO FEEDING NETWORK
BFN director, Sean Moree shares with Nancy Kelly the work of the Feeding Network KELLY’S House & Home President Nancy Kelly cemented her support for the Bahamas Feeding Network with a donation of $10,000 to Sean Moree, BFN director. The Feeding Network provides more than 2,800 hot meals every week in addition to food vouchers to help in the fight against hunger that affects one in every eight people in the Bahamas. The presentation took place during Kelly’s Employee Awards Banquet recently held at the British Colonial Hilton when Mrs Kelly said she hoped other corporate citizens and individuals would follow with support for the cause. “From the first time that I saw the video of the Bahamas
Feeding Network’s work, I was deeply moved and so impressed by the dedication and great spirit of the volunteers who help so many of our fellow Bahamians in need of food,” said Mrs Kelly. “The network’s team of volunteers prep, cook and plate some 2,000 hot meals every Sunday and another 800 on Thursdays... The teamwork and the spirit that goes into serving and delivering all that food to thousands of hungry people week after week showed what human kindness and compassion could do to ease a national burden. Kelly’s is proud and honoured to assist the Bahamas Feeding Network and we hope more corporate and private entities will join us in donating to this charity.”
Ferguson tight-lipped on union financial affairs By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune Staff Reporter rrolle@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Public Services Union President Kimsley Ferguson insisted yesterday that disputes about the union’s financial affairs will be addressed internally, without public commentary. His comment followed a report in the Bahama Journal that detailed the union’s financial problems. The article alleged the union’s financial state has worsened under Mr Ferguson’s leadership. Asked to address the matter yesterday, Mr Ferguson said: “Executives have concerns; they will be addressed internally.”
Pressed for more, he said the union has a responsibility to its members, suggesting it had no obligation to address its matters for the public to understand. His predecessor at the BPSU, John Pinder, told The Tribune the union has a “liquid cash” problem, adding: “It has sufficient assets that if they had to sell them off they can cover the debt. They have a number of properties and I believe they can juggle the funds properly should they find it necessary.” Mr Pinder said the union’s deteriorated financial position is because of several factors, including a large payout for medical claims over the years. “We’ve had big claims over a four-year period,” the former union leader said. “Up to $280,000 in one case and other big ones in the same year at times.”
In addition, the union owes real property taxes to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, he said.
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PAGE 12, Tuesday, March 6, 2018
THE TRIBUNE
POLICE ON HUNT FOR SIX IN MURDERS CASES By RICARDO WELLS Tribune Staff Reporter rwells@tribunemedia.net
POLICE yesterday issued wanted bulletins for six men they believe can help with investigations into a number of recent murders in New Providence. Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander issued the bulletins during a press conference at police headquarters when he also announced the arrests and arraignments of several prolific offenders. According to ACP Fernander, police want to speak with 18-year-old Ramero Rolle of Palm Beach Street; 24-year-old Kerby Pierre of Bacardi Road; 27-year-old Andrew “Mice” Burrows of Tyler Street; 28-year-old Alfred George of Knowles Drive and 33-year-old Patrick Goffee of Washington Street. Police also want to speak with a sixth man who was only identified by his alias, “Conchman”. During the press conference, ACP Fernander said officers are doing all they can to uphold the safety and comfort of everyday Bahamians. “I just want to take this opportunity to, first of all,
RAMERO ROLLE
ALFRED GEORGE give God thanks for guiding and protecting us as we continue this fight,” he said. “Also, to thank the public who continue to support their police officers and continue to hold hands with us as we move forward
PATRICK GOFFEE to make this country a safer place to live. “I also, on behalf of our commissioner of police, want to commend the hardworking officers, not only from the detective side of the fence who continue
KERBY PIERRE
ANDREWS BURROWS AKA “MICE” to go above and beyond to bring closure to these matters; but the uniforms (officers) are as well, who are working together as a team to continue this fight. “This is the kind of results that you will get
ALIAS “CONCHMAN” when you work as a team to get the best results, and that is what you are seeing play out here this morning. “What I would like to say as well, investigations are like a puzzle and it is not
easy when you find a body with no information. “And the detectives who continue to go out there and dig and to partnership with members of the public; it is like a puzzle, as you move with your investigation you put a piece in. “And as you continue to put the pieces together, you would get a perfect picture and that is what you are seeing play out here this afternoon,” he said, referring to multiple arraignments in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. ACP Fernander said police have no intention of relenting in the force’s targeting of crime hotspots, crediting these actions with much of the intelligence used in solving recent cases. He suggested the force would expand these efforts in coming weeks. “We want to continue to target the hotspots and be more proactive to prevent these incidents from happening,” ACP Fernander said. “As you can see, the police officers, we have boost up our patrols within the communities. “You would see into the evening, into the night, early morning, you could see police cars with lights flashing.”
SECOND MAN CHARGED OVER NIGHTCLUB KILLING By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net
A SECOND man was arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with murdering a man and attempting to kill two others at a nightclub last month. He was one of three men charged with separate murders yesterday. Christopher Blyden, 24, of Bamboo Town, was charged with the February 9 killing of Rico Taylor and attempted murders of Anfernee Major and Jarvis Joseph. His co-accused, 25-yearold Vernal Johnson, of
Dumping Ground Corner, was arraigned last week. According to initial reports, shortly after 11pm on the day in question, a group of people were at a nightclub on Hutchinson Street off Poinciana Drive, when three men entered the club and got into an argument with one of the patrons. One of the three men subsequently produced a weapon and fired into the crowd, resulting in three male patrons being shot, police said. The suspects then got into a burgundy coloured Japanese vehicle and sped away. Police were dispatched to the scene and upon arrival discovered that the victims
were taken to hospital in a private vehicle and ambulance. A short time later, one of the men was pronounced dead. The other two men were said to be in critical condition. Yesterday, Blyden’s attorney, Devard Francis, brought the court’s attention to a recording of the alleged shooting that has been making the rounds on social media, and submitted to the court that his client could be a virtual complainant in the matter. Nonetheless, Blyden was informed by the court that he would not be required to enter a plea to the charges and adjourned the matter to April 12 for
service of a voluntary bill of indictment. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDCS) in the interim. Another man was arraigned in connection with a murder in Yellow Elder Gardens that occurred last week. Stephon Mackey, 27, of Old Cedar Street, Yellow Elder Gardens, stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with a single count of murder stemming from the February 27 incident. It is alleged that on the day in question, Mackey murdered Glenton Pablito Smith.
According to initial reports, shortly before 11pm on the day in question, a male and female arrived at a residence on Seymour Street, Yellow Elder Gardens. As the man was about to secure the premises, he was approached by two armed men, who shot him before running away. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Mackey was not required to enter a plea to the charge and the matter was adjourned to May 9 for service of a VBI. He too was remanded to the BDCS in the interim. Meanwhile, a man was arraigned over allegations he killed two men and
attempted to kill another while they were reportedly playing cards under a car port in the Pinewood Gardens area last month. Malik Fernander, 18, of Kemp Road, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of murder stemming from the February 16 shooting deaths of Rashad Bethel and D’Siorn Symonette, and the attempted murder of Roland Brown. Fernander was not required to enter a plea to the charge and his matter was adjourned to May 9 for service of a VBI. He was remanded in the interim.
FATHER ACCUSED OF HELPING MURDER SUSPECT EVADE LAW By NICO SCAVELLA Tribune Staff Reporter nscavella@tribunemedia.net A FATHER and son were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday over allegations that the son murdered a security guard for a local seafood processing centre last month, and the father subsequently helped assist him in evading the law. Seantino Rolle, 22, of Coral Harbour, stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson charged with the February 22
murder of David Nelson, while his 44-year-old father Sean Rolle of Lincoln Boulevard was charged with being an accessory after the fact. The younger Rolle was also accused of robbing Gulf Stream Foods on Firetrail Road of 4,101 pounds of crawfish worth $53,313, as well as stealing some 1,298 pounds of crawfish worth $16,225 from that enterprise between January 31 and February 1. It is also alleged he dishonestly received 75 bags of crawfish worth $39,000
belonging to Gulf Stream Foods between February 22 and March 1. He was further charged with breaking into the establishment on two separate occasions with intent to steal. The younger Rolle was also charged with stealing a Mitsubishi truck worth $5,000 from NI Limited Water Company sometime between 8.50pm and 4.23am on February 14. According to initial reports from police, shortly after 7am on February 22, officers were called to investigate a shop breaking
and stealing complaint at a seafood processing centre on Fire Trail Road west. While searching the compound, officers discovered an unconscious male, believed to be the security guard, who had visible injuries to his body. Paramedics were called to the scene, but were unable to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A quantity of seafood was reported as being stolen from the property. Neither man was required to enter a plea to
the charges and the matter was adjourned to May 9 for service of a voluntary bill of indictment. Before being escorted out of the courtroom, however, their attorney Jomo Campbell told the chief magistrate that Seantino Rolle was beaten about his head with a phone directory while in custody at the Central Detective Unit (CDU), and was also kicked in his back while handcuffed. Officers also allegedly sat on his stomach and placed a plastic bag over his head. The elder Rolle made
similar claims, alleging he was slapped on his head with a phone book and “fish-bagged” – had a bag placed over his head – while his hands were cuffed behind his back. He said when he managed to take his hands, still cuffed, and tear a hole in the bag to breathe, officers doubled the plastic bag. The chief magistrate took note of their claims before remanding them to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services to await the service of their VBIs.